Colorado § 42-3-102 - Periodic registration - rules.

§ 42-3-102. Periodic registration - rules.

(1) The department may establish by rule a periodic vehicle registration program whereby certain vehicles shall be registered at:

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, twelve-month intervals beginning on the month following the month of application for registration, in which case the registration of these vehicles expires on the last day of the month of each twelve-month registration period;

(b) Five-year intervals upon payment of a five-year registration fee and any five-year specific ownership tax that may be due. An owner of any of the following motor vehicles may elect a five-year registration pursuant to this paragraph (b), which registration shall expire on the last day of the last month of each five-year registration period:

(I) A utility trailer; or

(II) Special mobile machinery.

(2) (a) Except for motor vehicles of model year 1981 or older and except for motorcycles of any model year, the department may register motor vehicles at two-year intervals upon payment of a two-year registration fee and a two-year specific ownership tax. The owner of a motor vehicle that is eligible as determined by the department for two-year registration may elect a two-year registration pursuant to this subsection (2), which registration shall expire on the last day of the last month of each two-year registration period.

(b) This subsection (2) shall not apply to class A property that is registered through the international registration plan. Such vehicles shall continue to be registered every twelve months.

(3) (a) [Editor's note: This version of subsection (3)(a) is effective until July 1, 2027.] The department may register vehicles at intervals of less than one year upon payment of the appropriate registration fees, surcharges, and specific ownership tax in order to allow the owner of more than one vehicle to provide for the owner's vehicle registrations to expire simultaneously. The owner of a vehicle that is eligible as determined by the authorized agent may elect a registration pursuant to this subsection (3). The department may adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this subsection (3).

(3) (a) [Editor's note: This version of subsection (3)(a) is effective July 1, 2027.] The department may register vehicles at intervals of less than one year upon payment of the appropriate registration fees, surcharges, and specific ownership tax in order to allow the owner to select the month of expiration during initial registration or registration renewal. The request must be made only one time in the twelve months after the transaction date. The owner of a vehicle that is eligible as determined by the authorized agent may elect a registration pursuant to this subsection (3). The department may adopt rules as necessary for the administration of this subsection (3).

(b) This subsection (3) shall not apply to class A property that is registered through the international registration plan. Such vehicles shall continue to be registered every twelve months.

(4) (a) (I) In lieu of registering under subsections (1) to (3) of this section, an applicant may register a commercial trailer or semitrailer under this paragraph (a) if:

(A) The trailer or semitrailer qualifies as Class A personal property;

(B) The owner is based outside Colorado in accordance with the international registration plan; and

(C) The owner complies with this section and sections 42-3-107 (28) and 42-3-313.

(II) A trailer or semitrailer registration issued under this subsection (4) does not expire except when the vehicle changes ownership in accordance with this article. The registration expires upon the sale or transfer of the trailer or semitrailer.

(III) The department shall issue a license plate to a trailer or semitrailer registered under this paragraph (a), but a validating sticker or tab is not issued nor required for the license plate.

(b) (I) In lieu of registering under subsections (1) to (3) of this section, an applicant may register a commercial trailer or semitrailer under this paragraph (b) if:

(A) The trailer or semitrailer qualifies as Class A personal property;

(B) The owner is based in Colorado in accordance with the international registration plan;

(C) The trailer or semitrailer is in at least its tenth year of service; and

(D) The owner complies with this section and sections 42-3-107 (28) and 42-3-313.

(II) A trailer or semitrailer registration issued under this paragraph (b) does not expire except when the vehicle changes ownership in accordance with this article. The registration expires upon the sale or transfer of the trailer or semitrailer.

(III) The department shall issue a license plate to a trailer or semitrailer registered under this paragraph (b), but a validating sticker or tab is not issued nor required for the license plate.

(c) Upon the sale or transfer of ownership of a trailer or semitrailer registered under this section, the owner shall notify the department of the sale or transfer. Upon registering a trailer or semitrailer under this section, the department shall notify the owner of this provision. The department shall also notify the public of the requirements of this section on its web page.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article or article 6 of this title, a person may register a trailer or semitrailer under this subsection (4) with a valid certificate of title from another jurisdiction of the United States without filing for a certificate of title in Colorado.

(e) Repealed.

(5) [Editor's note: Subsection (5) is effective July 1, 2027. For the applicability of subsection (5) on or after January 1, 2028, see the editor's note following this section.]

(a) In lieu of registering under subsections (1) to (3) of this section, an applicant may register a trailer under this subsection (5) if:

(I) The trailer qualifies as Class B or Class D personal property; and

(II) The owner complies with this section and sections 42-3-107 (29) and 42-3-315.

(b) A trailer registration issued under this subsection (5) does not expire until the trailer changes ownership in accordance with this article 3. The registration expires upon the transfer of the trailer.

(c) The department shall issue a license plate to a trailer registered under this subsection (5), but a validating sticker or tab is not issued nor required for the license plate.

(d) (I) Upon the transfer of ownership of a trailer registered under this section, the owner shall notify the department of the transfer.

(II) Upon registering a trailer under this section, the department shall notify the owner of the requirement of this subsection (5)(d) to notify the department of any transfer of the trailer registered under this subsection (5). The department shall also notify the public of the requirements of this subsection (5) on its web page.

Source: L. 2005: Entire article amended with relocations, p. 1072, § 2, effective August 8. L. 2007: (1)(a) amended and (3) added, p. 500, § 2, effective August 3. L. 2010: (1)(b)(II) amended, (HB 10-1172), ch. 320, p. 1487, § 2, effective October 1. L. 2012: (4) added, (HB 12-1038), ch. 276, p. 1455, § 2, effective June 8. L. 2022: (1)(a) amended, (HB 22-1254), ch. 428, p. 3029, § 6, effective January 1, 2023; (3)(a) amended, (HB 22-1388), ch. 475, p. 3460, § 2, effective January 1, 2023. L. 2025: (3)(a) amended, (HB 25-1189), ch. 395, p. 2227, § 2, effective July 1, 2027; (5) added, (HB 25-1121), ch. 392, p. 2213, § 1, effective July 1, 2027. L. 2026: (4)(e) repealed, (HB 26-1295), ch. 121, p. 528, § 30, effective August 12.

Editor's note: (1) Section 7(2) of chapter 395 (HB 25-1189), Session Laws of Colorado 2025, provides that the act changing this section applies to titles issued and fees incurred on or after July 1, 2027.

(2) Section 5(2) of chapter 392 (HB 25-1121), Session Laws of Colorado 2025, provides that the act changing this section applies to registrations made on or after January 1, 2028.

Cross references: (1) For the legislative declaration contained in the 2007 act amending subsection (1)(a) and enacting subsection (3), see section 1 of chapter 136, Session Laws of Colorado 2007.

(2) For the legislative declaration in the 2012 act adding subsection (4), see section 1 of chapter 276, Session Laws of Colorado 2012.

(3) For the short title (the "Colorado Registration Fairness Act") in HB 22-1254, see section 1 of chapter 428, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.